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Stanley Clarke’s 4EVER Delivers Robust, Virtuosic Jazz Fusion At Tiny Desk

Eric Alper
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Stanley Clarke’s 4EVER Delivers Robust, Virtuosic Jazz Fusion At Tiny Desk

Robust sound is always a central hallmark of bassist Stanley Clarke’s musicality, a fact immediately apparent at the Tiny Desk where a wall of amps was visible, underscoring his reminder to the audio team to ensure the sound feels good, not just reads well on the board. Clarke’s storied career, spanning decades, includes seminal work with titans like Chick Corea and Al Di Meola, alongside successful scoring for film and television. His solo albums from the mid-70s, including ‘Stanley Clarke’, ‘Journey to Love’, and ‘School Days’, cemented his status as a force in music and foreshadowed his 2022 designation as an NEA Jazz Master. Demonstrating his passion for spotlighting young talent, Clarke’s latest ensemble, 4EVER, features saxophonist Emilio Modeste, drummer Jeremiah Collier, guitarist Colin Cook, violinist Evan Garr, and keyboardist Cameron Graves, all of whom rose to the challenge immediately. They opened with “Song to John” from 1975’s ‘Journey to Love’ before “Yesterday Princess,” from his 1974 self-titled album, gave violinist Garr a chance to shine. The performance moved into the electric realm with 2003’s smooth yet funky “1, 2, to the Bass,” closing powerfully with one of his biggest hits, “School Days,” proving that over five decades since his solo debut, Clarke still innovates with the solid fullness of his instrument.

SET LIST

  • “Song to John”
  • “Yesterday Princess”
  • “1,2, to the Bass”
  • “School Days”

Beenie Man Brings Maximum Velocity Dancehall Fire To The Tiny Desk

Eric Alper
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Beenie Man Brings Maximum Velocity Dancehall Fire To The Tiny Desk

The King of Dancehall, Beenie Man, brought the full fire of Kingston to Washington D.C., overcoming his initial contemplation of the small office space to deliver a performance accustomed to maximum velocity on a giant stage. The man born Moses Anthony Davis paused to celebrate his incredible longevity, telling the crowd, “I’ve been doing music since the age of 5. I did my first single at the age of 7. Now I’m 50-something and I’m doing the same thing.” Just in time for the Black Music Month anniversary theme, his most commercially successful album, ‘Art and Life’, turned 25, marking an exciting moment for the artist who recently had his work visa reinstated after a ten-year ban from the United States. With real dancehall fans front and center holding flags, easing any doubts he might have had, Beenie Man powered through a decades-spanning set of club classics that proved why he remains absolutely vital.

SET LIST

  • “Who Am I”
  • “Romie”
  • “Girls Dem Sugar”
  • “Toy Friend”
  • “Miss L.A.P.”
  • “Let Him Go”
  • “Dude”
  • “King of the Dancehall”
  • “Rum & RedBull”

Rico Nasty Delivers Full-Force Rager Rockstar Triumph At Tiny Desk

Eric Alper
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Rico Nasty Delivers Full-Force Rager Rockstar Triumph At Tiny Desk

Rico Nasty’s boundless artistry finally exploded at the actual Tiny Desk, four years after her electrifying home concert, delivering a full-force performance that showcases the rapper, rager, and rockstar in all her complexity. Performing for a packed house of Nasty Mob members, family, and hometown supporters, the DMV native told the crowd, “There is a connection that I have with you guys,” adding, “It just makes me feel very safe,” which clearly fueled her fierce set. Five years after her debut studio album ‘Nightmare Vacation’, Rico has fully evolved, and her latest project ‘LETHAL’ finds her completely confident in the unique lane she has built, expertly blending vulnerability and bold attitude. At the Desk, Rico let every facet of herself shine, transitioning seamlessly from explosive tracks like “SMOKE BREAK” to a smooth, reimagined version of “ON THE LOW,” and then showcasing the tender resonance of “SMILE,” a beautiful song dedicated to her son. Rico delivered a carefully curated show that highlights every corner of her musical identity while leaving an unforgettable mark on the iconic space.

SET LIST

  • “WHO WANT IT”
  • “TEETHSUCKER (YEA3X)”
  • “ON THE LOW”
  • “Tia Tamera”
  • “SON OF A GUN”
  • “SMOKE BREAK”
  • “Smack a Bitch”
  • “CRASH”
  • “CAN’T WIN EM ALL”
  • “SMILE”

Takács Quartet Celebrates 50 Years Of Sublime Chamber Music Mastery At Tiny Desk

Eric Alper
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Takács Quartet Celebrates 50 Years Of Sublime Chamber Music Mastery At Tiny Desk

Mapping out a massive 50th-anniversary tour that included dozens of stops in global cities like Seoul, London, Milan, and Vancouver, the esteemed Takács Quartet honored the Tiny Desk with a special Washington D.C. visit. Cellist András Fejér, the quartet’s sole original member, commands a goldmine of institutional memory, having co-founded the group in communist Hungary and guiding it through a defection to Boulder, Colorado, where the members still teach. This Tiny Desk set served as a brilliant microcosm of the band’s broad-minded programming creed, beginning in the 18th century with pioneer Joseph Haydn, whose false cadences brought humor as the themes were passed around like delicious canapés. They transitioned into a quirky waltz from ‘Flow: III. Quark Scherzo,’ a new piece written specifically for them by Nokuthula Ngwenyama, and finally performed a plucky, shimmering, and magical movement from Maurice Ravel’s 1903 String Quartet in F. As violinist Edward Dusinberre told the audience, “Somehow the medium inspires composers to express themselves in their most daring, imaginative and humorous ways,” and for five decades, the Takács Quartet has been the eloquent voice for those composers.

SET LIST

  • Joseph Haydn: String Quartet in D minor, Op. 42: IV. Finale
  • Nokuthula Ngwenyama: Flow: III. Quark Scherzo
  • Maurice Ravel: String Quartet in F major: II. Assez vif – très rythmé

Gillian Welch And David Rawlings Return To Tiny Desk With Timeless Mystical Brilliance

Eric Alper
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Gillian Welch And David Rawlings Return To Tiny Desk With Timeless Mystical Brilliance

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings returned to the Tiny Desk fifteen years after their last visit, presenting their timeless music with the same core elements: two guitars, two voices, and thirty-plus years of stunning performance chemistry. Facing each other across the Desk, the duo immediately established an auditory illusion with the ballad “Empty Trainload of Sky,” where their guitars chugged and vocal harmonies swirled surrealistic imagery over a classic American musical canvas. The set included the track “Lawman,” a song whose themes of corrupt politics feel equally relevant whether set a century ago or yesterday, and “Hashtag,” a brilliant tribute to the late Guy Clark that manages to be both tragicomic and deeply existential. These songs, all from last year’s album ‘Woodland’, endure change with grace by leaning into small, intimate moments. Welch and Rawlings closed powerfully with “Revelator,” a mystic brew of personal history and apocalyptic prophecy from their significant 2001 leveling-up, letting their simmering harmonies bloom and wither before bursting through Rawlings’ reflective, ravaging guitar solos, ensuring the profound feeling reverberated long after the final chord faded.

SET LIST

  • “Empty Trainload of Sky”
  • “Lawman”
  • “Hashtag”
  • “Revelator”

Clipse Ends Sixteen-Year Hiatus With One Of The Hardest Tiny Desks Ever

Eric Alper
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Clipse Ends Sixteen-Year Hiatus With One Of The Hardest Tiny Desks Ever

After a sixteen-year hiatus, Clipse’s return to the Tiny Desk was meticulously pieced together, culminating in a performance the duo insisted must capture their signature sound: hard synths and even harder drums, with absolutely no “jazzy renditions” allowed. Hybrid drummer Daru Jones, who previously played with The LOX, was the crucial first choice, perfectly blending electronic and traditional drum sounds to provide the needed sonic authenticity that made everything else instantly fall into place. The excitement for the Thornton brothers’ return reached a peak as someone in the crowd instantly yelled “Oh my god!” at the opening note of “Virginia,” kicking off a relentless set that coasted through classics like “Keys Open Doors” and “Momma I’m So Sorry” from their celebrated album ‘Hell Hath No Fury’. Witnessing the dichotomy between Pusha T and Malice up close was fascinating; Malice was collected and intensely scanned the room while his brother was far more animated, even letting out a sinister laugh mid-set. Recorded weeks ago, the duo performed new tracks from their latest album ‘Let God Sort Em Out’ for the first time, including the chilling dedication to their deceased parents, “Birds Don’t Sing,” before delivering the moment everyone was waiting for in “Grindin’.”

SET LIST

  • “Virginia”
  • “Keys Open Doors”
  • “Momma I’m So Sorry”
  • “Chains & Whips”
  • “Birds Don’t Sing”
  • “Grindin'”

ANOHNI And The Johnsons Deliver Soul-Searching Emotional Potency At Tiny Desk

Eric Alper
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ANOHNI And The Johnsons Deliver Soul-Searching Emotional Potency At Tiny Desk

ANOHNI and the Johnsons brought the same passionate intellect from their soul-searching live shows to the Tiny Desk, delivering an emotionally potent and psychologically fissile set that underscores ANOHNI’s nearly 30-year career of immaculately built music. ANOHNI’s songs intentionally ask tough questions, such as the lament for the environment “Why Am I Alive Now,” which builds its heavenly groove with propulsive drumming and a plaintive clarinet before ending with the resonant line, “All our memories are sinking into un-living.” Yet, tracks like the subsequent “Hopelessness” manage to feel cathartic despite the difficult subject matter, thanks to its diaphanous arrangement that forces listeners to look inward with the question, “How did I become a virus?” The performance concluded with the soul-flavored “It Must Change,” building to a purifying, intoxicating shuffle that provides a necessary truth-to-power oratory, affirming ANOHNI as a provocative and much-needed artist who challenges us to confront our feelings and find a way to own them.

SET LIST

  • “Why Am I Alive Now?”
  • “Hopelessness”
  • “It Must Change”

Bloc Party Celebrates Two Decades Of Enduring Indie Rock Brilliance At Tiny Desk

Eric Alper
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Bloc Party Celebrates Two Decades Of Enduring Indie Rock Brilliance At Tiny Desk

Bloc Party members were clearly excited to pay a visit, with Kele Okereke enthusiastically exclaiming, “Come on, Tiny D!” about a minute into the English rock group’s superb Tiny Desk concert. Approaching the challenge with smiles and ease, the band delivered a carefully curated set that marked two decades since the release of their enduring debut album. The performance began with the super catchy and energetic pop anthem “Banquet” from ‘Silent Alarm’, instantly demonstrating their infectious energy. They continued with two fantastic songs from 2008’s ‘Intimacy’, first presenting the shimmery, glockenspiel-forward track “Signs,” and then launching into “Mercury,” which gave the audience a sneak peek at Okereke’s vocal effects rig hidden beneath the Desk. Bloc Party closed out the performance with “Blue,” a sweet and slower song from the band’s catalog, ending quietly yet powerfully as Okereke sang the intimate line, “I fall asleep on your sleeve / with those three words in my dreams.”

SET LIST

“Blue”

“Banquet”

“Signs”

“Mercury”

Rusowsky Reveals Raw Emotional Depth And Shines At Tiny Desk

Eric Alper
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Rusowsky Reveals Raw Emotional Depth And Shines At Tiny Desk

Spanish producer and pianist Rusowsky has spent his career making other artists shine, but with his debut album ‘DAISY’, he stepped into the spotlight, and his Tiny Desk performance reveals his soul in full, captivating force. While ‘DAISY’ is a beautifully orchestrated and intentional studio album full of fun synths and crashing sounds, it often keeps his voice partially hidden behind production effects. At the Desk, however, Rusowsky’s stunning and well-thought-out arrangements pushed his producer instincts to the backseat, allowing his most intimate tools—his voice and his piano—to take the lead. His guard is completely down, and the emotion his voice evokes is consistently breathtaking, quaking in some moments and richly shining in others. Rusowsky’s truth is completely on display here, and his sound has never felt more effervescent or profoundly raw.

SET LIST

  • “Johnny Glamour”
  • “SOPHIA”
  • “malibU”
  • “(ecco)”
  • “Dolores”

PUP Makes Existential Nihilism Sound Like The Happiest Party On Earth At Tiny Desk

Eric Alper
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PUP Makes Existential Nihilism Sound Like The Happiest Party On Earth At Tiny Desk

For anyone who thinks confronting world-weary discontent cannot be fun, the Canadian pop-punk powerhouse PUP is here to prove you wrong with their long-overdue and absolutely chaotic Tiny Desk debut. The band, whose albums carry titles like ‘Morbid Stuff’ and ‘The Dream is Over’, possesses a unique genius for pairing hard-earned wisdom and deadpan humor with songs about a miserable existence, making their anxiety sound utterly anthemic. PUP, which stands for Pathetic Use of Potential, tore through five songs, kicking things off with the restlessly hooky title track “Morbid Stuff,” followed by the self-referential “Robot Writes a Love Song” from 2022’s ‘The Unraveling of PUPTheBand’. They kept the energy high with “Hallways,” a driving track about struggling through life just to be around for your dog. Though frontman Stefan Babcock kept silent between songs, he beamed playfully while delivering lines like “I’ve been navigating my way through the mind-numbing reality of a godless existence,” before closing with the pop-leaning “Hunger for Death” from ‘Who Will Look After the Dogs?’ The set concluded perfectly when Babcock leaned in to declare, “F*** everyone in this office,” only to add with a smile, “especially me.”

SET LIST

  • “Morbid Stuff”
  • “Robot Writes a Love Song”
  • “Hallways”
  • “Kids”
  • “Hunger for Death”
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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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